Tube flaring tool



Jan. 14, 1964 J. w. MEESE TUBE FLARING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1961 INVENTOR. JOHN MEESE HIS ATTORNEY.

Jan. 14, 1964 J. w. MEESE TUBE 'FLARING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3. 1961 INVENTOR. JOHN MEESE U W H/5 ATTOQNEY United States Patent 3,117,617 TUBE FLARING TOOL John W. llleese, Avon, Ohio, assignor to The Ridge Tool Company, Elyria, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 3, 1961, Ser. No. 107,430 4 Claims. (Cl. 15381) This invention relates to tools for flaring or hanging tubing and more particularly to tools for flanging copper or brass tubing.

l-leretofore it has been common practice to flare tubing wherein the tube is held by a clamp means and a flaring mandrel is pressed against the end of the tube to flare the end of the tube outwardly. If the flaring was to be most effective the devices were usually of a complicated nature and were frequently not operated in the manner intended by the designer, due their complicated nature.

One of the problems of the prior art was the burnishing of the flare, after the flare had been made, to provide a smooth finished surface on the flare. The amount of burnishing frequently depended on a lost motion connection which limited the amount of burnishing.

Still another problem resided in the fact that, when the tubing was of a hard nature, conventional flaring tools could not easily make a good flare. The eflort required to make the flare with conventional tools was often so great that the flare could not be made.

The tools of this invention is an improvement over that shown in the application of Anton l. lanik, Serial No. 826,047, now US. Patent No. 3,050,103, granted August 21, 1962.

The present invention contemplates a tool which is simple to operate, requiring no complicated movements. It is possible to make a flare on extremely hard tubing with a minimum of effort. It is also possible to burnish the flare an unlimited amount, to thus provide a very smooth flare without defects. It is also possible to back oii the flaring mandrel quickly and easily at any time without lost motion.

Still another advantage of the invention resides in the fact that the tool is simple in construction, making it much more economical to manufacture than the prior tools.

Still other advantages of the invention, as well as the invention itself, will become more apparent from reference to the following description of an embodiment thereof, which description is illustrated by the accompanying drawings and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FlG. i is a view partly in elevation partly medial section of a tool constructed according to my in vention;

FlG. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken at right angles to that of FIG. 1.

Throughout the drawings like parts have been designated by like reference characters.

As best illustrated in F GS. l and 2, there is provided a pair of clamp bars 1% which are hingedly connected together at ll, spaced from one end, and l: ld in alignmerit by an alignment pin 12 carried by one of the bars entering into a recess 13 in the other bar at the other end.

The inner faces of the clamp bars are provided with series of semi-cylindrical recesses 15 which are disposed opposite to each other and which, when the bars are juxtaposed, form substantially cylindrical clamping seats for engagement the tube to be flared. The upper ends of the recesses are provided with outwardly flared seats 16 each of which provides a seat for receiving and supporting the flared part of the tube, which is normally pressed into the seat during the flaring operation and during the burnishing operation except under certain con-' ditions Where the tube is flared above the seat without the use of the supporting seat. The details of the clamp bar are more fully disclosed in the above-mentioned copending application. i

The flaring means is slidably mounted on he clamp bars and includes a yoke shaped body 20 having a pair of legs 21 which terminate in inturned feet 22 at the lower end. The inner surface of the legs and the upper surface of the feet is machined to provide rectangular channels 23 which slidably receive the clamp bars. One leg of the yoke is provided with a threaded opening 24 which extends through the leg into one of the channels 23 and receives therein a clamp screw 25 having an outer operating T handle 2!? and a generally pointed inner end 27. One of the clamp bars is provided with conical recesses ltla, there being one conical recess for each of the tube gripping channels, and each of which is opposite the corresponding channel, for the reception of the pointed end of the clamp screw 2'5.

When the clamp screw 25 is screwed inwardly, so that the pointed end seats in a recess, the clamp bars are not only held clamped against the tube to be flared, but the yoke body 2i) is properly positioned opposite to and above the flaring seat in position for the start of the flaring operation, all as described in the aforementioned application.

The yoke body, immediately above the legs, is provided with a first enlarged bore 3%? which forms a seat for a needle bearing 31. The needle bearing guides an enlarged cyli rdrical mandrel supporting head 32 for rotational and longitudinal movemen therein. The head 32 is provided with an operating shaft 33, which extends well beyond the end of the yoke.

Above the bore 3%) is a slightly smaller bore 34. The junction of the bores 36 and 34 provides a downwardly facing shoulder which acts as a stop for positioning the needle bearing 31, which has a press fit within the bore 39. The bore 34 is slightly larger than the head 32 to provide a clearance space around the head.

At the upper end of the yoke there is provided a smaller threaded bore 35. The junction of the bores 3 and 35 provide a downwardly facing shoulder which acts as a stop for upward movement of the head 32.

An exteriorly threaded thrust sleeve 38 is threaded in the threaded bore 35' and carries on its upper end a flange or head 33a which is seated in a seat 39;! on the undersite of the hub of a handle 39. The bushing and handle are secured together by a dowel pin 4% which extends into the and into the hub of the han le. The thrust sleeve 33 is provided with an enlarged bore 3%, through which the operating shaft 33 extends, and a thrust bushing 41 is disposed in the bore around the operating shaft 33. The bushing i1 is substantially the same length as the bore and slightly smaller in diameter than the bore 335, to provide a gap between it and the bore. The upper end of the bushing engages with a shoulder E2 formed by the juncture of the bore 4-? with smaller guide bore 43 through which the shaft 33 extends and is guided with a free sliding lit. The other (low-er) end of the "ust bushing ll engages with the top of a thrust bearing 45 which is disposed between said lower end and the top of mandrel supporting head 32.

it will be appreciated that the bushing -21. and sleeve 38 would normally be made as one solid element'but with the construction shown, a heavy helical spring, such as shown in the beforementioned application, may be used, if desired. The solid element has certain advantages that are reali since a more firm and solid pressure may be applied, which is puticularly useful when flaring tubing or" the harder variety. In addition, it is of cheaper cork struction.

The operating shaft 33 extends beyond the head of the bushing 33 and has a handle 54) pinned on the end.

The mandrel supporting head 32 is provided with a bore 52 which is ofi center in respect to the axis of the head and slants at an angle of approximately 7 /2 away f om the axis toward the handle. The bore receives the stem 54 of a flaring mandrel 55 which is supported on needle bearings 56 in the bore and removably retained in position by a snap ring, not shown. The end of the head is provided with a slanting seat 57 for a thrust bearing 58 which is disposed between the base of the conical mandrei and the seat.

The inclination of the axis of the bore 52 and the angle 'of the conical face of the mandrel is such that the side 5561, Which is the side that rolls the flare, is at an angle of f to the axis of the tube. The point of the mandrel 55 is at the axis of the tube to be flared.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The clamp screw 25 is screwed outward in the yoke until the point is free of the conical recess and the yoke g slid to the left which enables the clamp bars to be spread apart. The tube to be flared is inserted in the appropriate seat, the clamp bars brought together and the yoke 'slid over'until the clamp screw is opposite the conical recess which is opposite to the tube to be clamped. The clamp screw is then screwed inward and tightened, which forces the clamp bars together and clamps the tube. Preyioiis to this the handle 39 has been rotated to move the threaded sleeve 38 upward, which carried with it the head 32, until the head 32 engaged the shoulder 34a.

I The flaring operation is now ready to be started and both handle 5% and 39-, which are in juxtaposed relation, are "rotated cloclgwise. This causes the thrust sleeve 33 to be threaded downward in the yoke and carries with it the head 32. The conical mandrel 55 eventually er1= gages with the inner edge of the tube, and since it is rotating in an orbit, it rolls against the inner edge of the tube and also moves downward and the end portion of the tube is rolled outward. This combined downward and rolling movement, which is enabled by the conjoint operation of the two handles, is continued until the flare on the tube is formed, the tube end being rolled onto the seat at the top er the gripping recesses. The exact time when the flare is completed can be determined because of the greater resistance to the turning of the handle 39. It is also possible to determine the status of the flare by visual examination.

In the flaring of very hard tubing where it is normally diflicult, if not impossible, to flare in one operation, such as steel or stainless steel and tubing having a heavy wall thickness, it is possibly to flare such tubing by alternately applying pressure by the handle 39 and burnishing with the handle 50.

Actually, in some instances, a flare will be made when the end of the tube is disposed materially above the seat on the clamp bars and the flared end is then not rolled into the seat which does not back it up. At this time the size and shape of the flare is determined by visual examinatron.

When the tube has been flared outwardly into engagement with the seat, the handle 39 is then released, and the handie 5t) alone is turned. This thus continues the orbital rotation of the flaring mandrel on the flange on the tube, burnishing or ironing the same further so that 110 uneven surfaces are present. The burnishing operation can be continued as long as desired. A preferred manner of operation is to turn the handle 5% a few times to start :the burnishing, and then turn the handle 39 a part of a :turn to increase the burnishing pressure and continue with the rotation of the handle 50.

It is thus apparent that the burnishing operation may continued as long as desired to provide any desired degree .of smoothness of the flange and that there are no limitagtions placed on the amount of burnishing.

@fpai ticular importance is the factthat a simultaneous advancing and rotation of the flaring mandrel may be effected and that the pressure applied is of a positive nature. This first enables the flaring to be eflected without cracking the tube, because it is a rolling action. It also allows greater positive pressure to be exerted which, combined with the rolling action, enables hard tubing to be flared. It also enables the operation to be performed quickly because the rolling and advancing of the mandrel may be accomplished simultaneously with one hand. Furthermore, the mandrel may be rotated independently unlimited amounts in either direction during the burnishing operation.

When the burnishing operation is completed, the handle 35) is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction until the mandrel is withdrawn from the tube. Then the clamp screw is released, the yoke slid to the left and the flared tube removed.

It is apparent that, with the two handles in their closely juxtaposed relation, that a minimum amount of instructions need be given for the operation of the device. After the tube is clamped the operator merely grasps the handles and turns them until one of the handles ceases to turn. Then he turns the other handle a few times and then grasps then both and turns them in the opposite direction. No tools or wrenches are needed in conjunction with its operation.

It is also apparent that the device is extremely simple to manufacture and to assemble. There are no springs to break or lose their tension. The various parts are all shielded against dirt and damage from the exterior.

Having thus described my invention in an embodiment thereof I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a clamping means for holding a tube to be flared and support means for supporting a tube flaring means associated with said tube clamping means, said flaring means comprising a rotatable head with an operating stem coaxial therewith and extending therefrom, said support means having a first bore, antifriction means between the head and bore supporting the head against lateral movement, said head being rotatably and reciprocably disposed in said anti-friction means, said support means having a threaded bore beyond said first bore, a thrust member having threaded engagement in said threaded bore and disposed for engagement with said head and being formed with a stem-receiving bore and said stem extending through said bore, a first operating handle secured on the end of said thrust member whereby said member may be rotated to move said head in said first bore, said stem extending beyond the thrust member and a second handle secured to the end of said stem, each of said handles having hub portions for slidable engagement with each other, and having outwardly extending gripping portions in juxtaposed relation and positioned to enable either one or the other to be rotated independently or in unison.

2. In combination with a clamping means for holding a tube to be flared and support means for supporting a tube flaring means associated with said tube clamping means, said flaring means comprising a rotatable head with an operating stem coaxial therewith and extending therefrom, said support means having a first bore, antifriction means between the head and bore supporting the head against lateral movement, said head being rotatably and reciprocably disposed in said anti-friction means, said support means having a threaded bore beyond said first bore, a thrust member having threaded engagement in said threaded bore and being formed with a stem-receiving bore and said stem extending through said here, an antifriction thrust bearing interposed between the end of said thrust member and said head, a first operating handle secured on the end of said thrust member whereby said member may be rotated to move said head in said first 5 bore, said stem extending beyond the thrust member and a second handle secured to the end of said stem, each of said handles raving hub portions for slidable engagement with each other, and having outwardly extending grip ing portions in juxtaposed relation and positioned to enable either one or the other to be rotated independently or in unison.

3. In combination with a clamping means for holding a tube to be flared and support means for supporting a tube flaring means associated with said tube clamping means, said flaring means comprising a rotatable head with an operating stern coaxial therewith and extending therefrom, said support means having a first bore, antifriction means between the head and bore supporting the head against lateral movement, said head being rotatably and reciprocably disposed in said anti-friction means, said support means having a threaded bore beyond said first bore, a thrust member having threaded engagement in said threaded bore and having a cylindrical bore and being formed with a stem-receiving bore at its end, thrust bushing disposed in said cylindrical bore and disposed for engagement with said head, and said stem extending through said bores, a first operating handle secured on the end of said thrust member whereby said member may be rotated to move said head in said first bore, said stem extending beyond the thrust member and a second handle secured to the end of said stern, each of said handles having hub portions for slidable engagement 5 with each other, and having outwardly extending gripping portions in juxtaposed relation and positioned to enable either one or the other to be rotated independently or in unison.

4. A tube flaring tool comprising tube clamping means and daring means supported by said tube clamping means, flaring means including a body, a daring mandrel in said body, means for advancing the daring mandrel in said body comprising a threaded member threadedly engaged in said body and engaged with said mandrel, a first handle means connected to said threaded member and a second handle means independent of the first handle means connected to said flaring member for independent operation of said members, both of said handle means being closely juxtaposed to each other and coextensive in length whereby they may be grasped conjointly for simultaneous rotation of the said flaring member and threaded member.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 937,526 Hawkins Oct. 19, 1909 1,752,508 Schultis Apr. 1, 1930 2,235,572 Culbertson Mar. 18, 1941 2,350,054 McIntosh May 30, 1944 2,711,576 Wilson June 28, 1955 2,727,559 Franck Dec. 29, 1955 3,050,103 Janilr Aug. 21, 1962 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A CLAMPING MEANS FOR HOLDING A TUBE TO BE FLARED AND SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A TUBE FLARING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID TUBE CLAMPING MEANS, SAID FLARING MEANS COMPRISING A ROTATABLE HEAD WITH AN OPERATING STEM COAXIAL THEREWITH AND EXTENDING THEREFROM, SAID SUPPORT MEANS HAVING A FIRST BORE, ANTIFRICTION MEANS BETWEEN THE HEAD AND BORE SUPPORTING THE HEAD AGAINST LATERAL MOVEMENT, SAID HEAD BEING ROTATABLY AND RECIPROCABLY DISPOSED IN SAID ANTI-FRICTION MEANS, SAID SUPPORT MEANS HAVING A THREADED BORE BEYOND SAID FIRST BORE, A THRUST MEMBER HAVING THREADED ENGAGEMENT IN SAID THREADED BORE AND DISPOSED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID 